February 8, 2017: SOAP #2624:  Leviticus 7-9; Acts 15

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 15:36 Sometime later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.

Observation:   Earlier in Acts 9 we read that when the apostles in Jerusalem did not want to accept the new convert, Saul (whose name was changed to Paul), it was Barnabas who accepted Saul and spoke on his behalf.   And in chapter 15 when Paul does not accept Mark, we see that Barnabas accepts Mark.  It was Barnabas just being Barnabas.  Barnabas had an important input in two men used by God to write portions of the New Testament—Paul’s letters and the Gospel of Mark!

Application:  How the church today needs people like Barnabas.  We need people who will accept the youth today who dress differently and talk differently but have great futures ahead in the Kingdom of God.

Prayer:   Lord, use me to be an acceptor and encourager to those who are rejected.  May I see you at work in those around me.  Help me see what they can be and not just what they are.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 7, 2017: SOAP #2623:  Leviticus 4-6; Acts 14

Scripture:  Leviticus (NIV) 5:1 “‘If a person sins because he does not speak up when he hears a public charge to testify regarding something he has seen or learned about, he will be held responsible…. 5  “‘When anyone is guilty in any of these ways, he must confess in what way he has sinned 6 and, as a penalty for the sin he has committed, he must bring to the LORD a female lamb or goat from the flock as a sin offering; …or two doves (vs 7) …or a tenth of an ephah of fine flour (vs 11).   .

Observation:  People who had witnessed a criminal act or had knowledge about a criminal act were expected to report it to the proper authorities.  If they did not, it was considered a sin and they were required to pay a penalty.  For a justice system to be just, every citizen must be willing to participate.  Not just the police officer, not just the judge, not just the jury, but every citizen.   Justice is everyone’s responsibility.

Application:  It is my privilege to live in a society where the justice system is designed to discourage criminal activity by holding guilty people accountable.  However, for that to happen, I must be willing to tell what I have seen and what I know.  The cost of justice can be high as evil people may try to keep me from telling the truth.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, you are just and want your people to live in a just society.  So, you require each of us to participate.  When/If my turn comes, give me courage and clarity of speech.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 6, 2017: SOAP #2622:  Leviticus 1-3: Acts 13

Scripture:  Leviticus (NIV) 1:1 The LORD called to Moses and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting. He said, 2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When any of you brings an offering to the LORD, bring as your offering an animal from either the herd or the flock. 3 “‘If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to offer a male without defect. He must present it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting so that it will be acceptable to the LORD.

Observation:   A offering/gift reveals information about two parties.  First it reveals the ability and willingness of the giver.  It may reveal a special relationship.  Second, it may reveal a need or a preference of the one receiving the gift.  Often the gift is chosen to be something enjoyable and useful to the one receiving it.

Application:   When I give to the Lord, I want to give a gift that the Lord will enjoy.  I want to give it in a way that the Lord will enjoy receiving it from me.  The way a gift is given can be more important in making the gift acceptable as the nature of the gift itself.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I willingly give myself to you.  Use me to bring you glory today.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 5, 2017: SOAP #2621:  Exodus 39-40; Psalm 15; Acts 12

Scripture:  Exodus (NIV) 39:42 The Israelites had done all the work just as the LORD had commanded Moses.  43 Moses inspected the work and saw that they had done it just as the LORD had commanded. So, Moses blessed them. [also in verses 1, 5, 7, 21, 26, 29, 31, 32}
Exodus (NIV) 40:19 …as the LORD commanded him.  [also in verses 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, and 32]  34 THEN the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

Observation:  Seventeen times in these two chapters we read the same phrase: …just as the LORD commanded him/Moses.  They had been so careful to follow exactly the LORD’s commands.  That sets the foundation for verse 34 when the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.  God approved their work!         

Application:   The LORD’s presence is the approval I desire.  If I do as He commands, I can expect His Presence.  

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, in both large and small assignments, may you be pleased and may Your presence fill life.  Amen     

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity! 

February 4, 2017: SOAP #2620:  Exodus 37-38; Psalm 19; Acts 11

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.  2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.  3 There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. 4 Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world….

Romans (NIV) 1:18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.  20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

Observation:   Although I do not know the words, every language spoken on earth has words for sun, moon, and stars.  No one on earth is unaffected by the sun.  The language of the sun is spoken in every language and every location on earth.  The Creator is easily seen in His creation.

Application:   I should never walk through a day on earth without taking time to appreciate creation and to express my appreciation to the Creator!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, this morning I was privileged to enjoy the beauty of your sunrise.  If I had no reason to praise you from within my heart, I have abundant reasons to praise you from what I see around me. I have no excuse for not praising you!   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 3, 2017: SOAP #2619:  Exodus 35-36; Acts 10

Scripture:  Exodus (NIV) 35:30 Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the LORD has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 31 and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts—

Observation:  God had commanded Moses to build the tabernacle in which God would live in the middle of Israel’s camp.  But God did not expect Moses to do it by himself.  In Egypt, God had provided the specific items for the Israelites to give.  God also provided wisdom and skills for certain men, Bezalel and Oholiab, to work with the gold and silver items for the tabernacle.  Everything needed for the building of the tabernacle was in the camp of Israel.  Nothing had to be imported.  God had made sure everything needed was readily available.

Application:   When God assigns a specific task, I believe God will provide everything necessary.  He will provide the finances, the raw materials, and the people with skills to do the work.   He will not give me all the necessary skills, but will give them to someone willing to help me.  Sometimes the key to understanding the details of the task God has given is to consider the skills of those God has placed nearby.  Moses did not dominate Bezalel and Oholiab, he released them into the ministry to which God had called them and for which God had equipped them.

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, I am just one part of the plan you are developing around me.  I want to be useful and faithful.  I want to help and encourage others to fulfill their calling to serve you.    Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 2, 2017: SOAP #2618:  Exodus 33-34; Psalm 16; Acts 9

Scripture:  Exodus (NIV) 33:7 Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting”. Anyone enquiring of the LORD would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. …
9 As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the LORD spoke with Moses. …
11 The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young assistant Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.

Observation:  As Moses assistant, Joshua needed to be close to Moses.  He needed to be available to be sent to get what was needed or to take a message to someone for Moses.  As a future leader, Joshua needed to be close to Moses to learn leadership skills.

But more than knowing Moses, Joshua needed to know God!  A day would come when Moses would no longer be available.  There would never be a day when God would not be available!  Moses knew that Joshua would need to hear God’s voice.  Joshua would need to know the right protocol of being in God’s presence.  It was good for Joshua, the future leader of Israel, to linger in the Presence of Almighty God.   Moses let him stay.

Application:  I remember as a young boy of 7 or 8, praying late at the altar on Sunday evenings.  Everyone had gone home except my parents waiting for me.  Most of the lights were turned off and the church door was locked for the night, but I was still at the altar.  My parents never hurried me, never told me it was time to stop praying.  I did not know enough to know what God was doing in my life.  I cannot tell you of any specific message he gave me during those prayer times.  I remember only that it was good to linger in His Presence.

Prayer:   In Your Presence, In Your Presence, there is peace.       In Your Presence, In Your Presence there is joy.        I will linger, I will stay in your Presence day by day      Till Your likeness may be seen in me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

February 1, 2017: SOAP #2617:  Exodus 30-32; Acts 8

Scripture:  Exodus (NIV) 30:7 “Aaron must burn fragrant incense on the altar every morning when he tends the lamps.  8 He must burn incense again when he lights the lamps at twilight so that incense will burn regularly before the LORD for the generations to come.

Observation:   Yesterday we looked at the regular burnt offering that was made EVERY morning and EVERY evening in the tabernacle.  (Exodus 29:40-46) Today, in the next chapter we find two other daily requirements:  caring for the lamps and burning incense.

EVERY morning the lamps needed care.  The lamp needed to be refilled with oil.  The wicks needed trimming and adjustment.   EVERY evening they had to light the lamps.

Application:   I see the incense as a picture of my daily prayers.  I see the lamps as a picture of me.  I see the oil as a type of the Holy Spirit and the wick as a type of my flesh.  I need to be continually filled with the oil of the Holy Spirit.  And I need to keep the flesh (my attitude) properly adjusted.

When a wick is properly adjusted, the oil burns rather than the wick.  People say, “What a beautiful lamp!  Praise the Lord!”  When the wick is out of adjustment, it smokes and burns the wick.  People say, “Someone needs to trim and adjust that wick.”  People say, “That Christian needs an attitude adjustment!”

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, I want to be a lamp that brings you glory and joy.  May those around me see the fire of the Holy Spirit burning in me.    Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!